Nicklas Kronwall's hit on Martin Havlat may change tone of Red Wings-Blackhawks series

CHICAGO -- Through two games, the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks played more like old friends -- competitive, but more than accepting of each other's presence, with mild tempers from both sides.

One shoulder to the head changed all that Friday night. It was the series' first them-is-fightin'-words moment.

Less than 7 minutes into Game 3, Detroit's Niklas Kronwall waited for Chicago's Martin Havlat along the boards, instead of challenging for the puck. As soon as Havlat attempted to gain possession and turn up ice, there was Kronwall, with a perfectly timed left shoulder to face of Havlat, who collapsed to the ice, appearing to be knocked unconscious.

Suddenly, the once-bitter rivals remembered they didn't like each other all that much.

From then on, at least through the first two periods of Chicago's 4-3 overtime win, almost every bit of action in front of the net was followed by a reaction -- a shove, a swing or an all-out scrum.

"Both teams are respectful of each other, but after that hit, it just kind of sparked guys," the Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook said. "We feel like that was kind of a dirty hit. So that means we're going to start giving it to their star players a little bit and making it tough for them to play as well."

The teams combined for all 11 regulation penalties in the first 40 minutes, including a four-minute high-sticking call on Dan Cleary and Kronwall's dismantling of Havlat, which resulted in a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct.

Havlat's game, too, was over. After needing several minutes before even sitting up and then being helped to the locker room, the Blackhawks' leader in playoff points (15, including a first-period assist on Chicago's second goal) didn't return.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville called Havlat "day to day," saying he "looked better" after the game.

"It was a dangerous hit and he hadn't touched the puck," said Quenneville, who thought Kronwall left his feet.

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock didn't see it that way, amazed that two coaches who see so many things similarly could view this so differently.

"It was actually a good, finished check," said Babcock, adding Kronwall's hit was a reaction to an earlier play by the Blackhawks.

If history is precedent, Kronwall won't be suspended. Anaheim's Mike Brown delivered a similar blow to the Red Wings' Jiri Hudler in Game 1 of that series and was booted from the game but not punished further.

"I'd be shocked," Babcock said of the possibility of a suspension. "I'd be absolutely shocked.